Piano action



ly 7, 1964 c. w. ANDERSEN ETAL 3,139,781

PIANO ACTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed July 20, 1959 9/ car/07 39:Q/dan/ y 1954 c. w. ANDERSEN ETAL 3,139,781

PIANO ACTION Original Filed July 20, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 h A QINVENTORS, 'kfir'd 1 1 M75670 United States Patent 3 Claims. (Cl.84-240) This invention relates generally to piano actions and moreparticularly to piano actions of the inverted-stickertype.

This application is a division of our copending application, Serial No.828,176 filed July 20, 1959, and entitled Piano Action.

A general problem with piano actions of the invertedsticker-type is theproclivity of the stickers to fall in all directions when not connectedto the piano keys. Accordingly, removal and reinstallation of such anaction becomes quite difficult. It is, therefore, an important object ofthe present invention to provide an improved piano action of theinverted-sticker-type in which the stickers are readily restrained forinstallation or removal of the action.

An additional problem encountered in installing or removing a pianoaction is the difficulty of transporting the action past the stringswithout inadvertently damaging the damper felts. Hence, another objectof the invention is to provide a piano action in which the dampers areretracted when the stickers are restrained.

Additional objects and features of the invention pertain to theparticular structure and arrangements whereby the above objects areattained.

A structure in accordance with the invention comprises a piano key; apiano action including a sticker releasably attached to the key; anaction bracket spaced from the piano key in supporting relationship withthe piano action; and hook means on the action bracket for cooperatingin holding the sticker when the sticker is released from the key.

The invention, both to its structure and mode of operation, will bebetter understood by reference to the following disclosure and drawingsforming a part thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side-elevational, cross-sectional view showing a pianoaction constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective, fragmentary view showing a number of stickersrestrained by a dowel rod constrained in an action bracket; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, side-elevational view of the showing of FIG. 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, specifically to FIG. 1, a pianostructure is shown to include a front panel 12, a keybed 14 and a frame16. In conventional manner a backplate 18 is secured to the frame 16,piano strings 20 being suitably mounted to the backplate 18 in a tautcondition. A balance rail (not shown) is mounted on panel 22 fastened tothe keybed 14 in order to support a plurality of piano keys 24. Whileeach key 24 pivots about the balance rail on a balance rail pin, aguidepin 26 guides the outer end of the key and is surrounded by a feltwasher 27 which serves as a downstop. A keybed felt 28 is appropriatelysecured to the end of panel 22 in order to support key 24 in the restposition. 8

Depression of a key 24 is arranged to cause striking of thecorresponding string 20 through a piano action assembly indicatedgenerally at 30. The piano action 30 is mounted in the piano structureby means of a number of action brackets 32. Each of the brackets 32 isfastened to the backplate 18 by a screw 34 and a tubular, action spacer36. A mainrail 38, a spring rail 40 and a hammer rail 42 extend throughthe piano to be atlixed to each of the action brackets 32 for purposesof supporting the individual action members.

Piano action 30 is of the inverted-sticker-type; and as is Well known,each hammer 44 of such an action includes a butt 46, butt 46 beingpivotally mounted to the mainrail 38 by means of a butt flange 48.Hammer 44 is urged to strike a string 20 by means of a jack 50 which ispivotally mounted to a whip 52 by means of a jack flange 54. Whip 52 is,in turn, mounted pivotally to mainrail 38 by a whip flange 56, anabstract or sticker 58 being pivotally mounted to Whip 52 by a pin 60 inorder to actuate jack 50 when the corresponding key 24 is depressed.

A screw 62 threadedly engages the free end of sticker 58, sticker 58being preferably fabricated from wood or other rigid material.Accordingly, screw 62 can enter a hole bored axially in sticker 58 orcan be screwed directly into the sticker. The screw 62 is provided witha knurled portion 64 which is adapted to retain above it a resilientgrommet 66. As is best shown in FIG. 3, grommet 66 incorporates acircumferential slot 68. Grommet 66 is preferably molded from rubberalthough it can also be fashioned from felt.

A keyfork or yoke 70 is secured to the end of piano key 24, keyfork 70being advantageously provided with a rearwardly opening notch adapted toreceive grommet 66 at the circumferential slot 68. Keyfork 70 can befabricated from steel and can be plated for corrosion resistance ifdesired.

The keyfork 70 is provided with a tongue which can be driven directlyinto key 24, preferably at an angle in order to keep from splitting thewood of which key 24 is customarily made. Advantageously, this tongue iscoated with rosin in order to achieve better attachment.

When it is desired to remove the piano action 30, sticker 58 may bereadily separated from key 24 by pushing grommet 66 from its engagementwith keyfork 70. Next, sticker 58 is pushed back until it engages abackcheck 76 that is rigidly secured to Whip 52. Continued pushing ofsticker 58 causes whip 52 to pivot about a pin 78; and as a result, aspoon 80 engages a damper lever 82 urging a damper 84 to pivot about apin 86. This movement withdraws a damper felt 88 from contact with thecorresponding stringZtl.

The piano action 30 will now be rearranged as shown in dashed outline inFIG. 1. In this configuration, it should be noted, sticker 58 isdisposed to the rear of a hook 90 which projects from action bracket 32.Thus disposed, sticker 58 may be restricted in such position by means ofa dowel rod 92 inserted longitudinally through action 30 between hook 90and sticker 58, it being understood that each bracket 32 has such a hook90, the dowel rod 92 being positioned behind all such hooks. Thisarrangement is shown clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3.

As is suggested in FIG. 2, a number of stickers 58 can be restrained bythe dowel rod 92. When all of the stickers 58 have been so restrained,the screws 34 may be loosened and withdrawn from the action brackets 32and the entire action assembly easily Withdrawn from the piano. It willbe recognized that retracting the dampers 84 as hereinabove describedgreatly facilitates removal of the action assembly by reducing thepossibility of damage to the felts 88 as might be occasioned by theirbeing dragged across or along the strings 20 upon removal of the action30.

The above procedure is easily reversed for reinstallation of the pianoaction.

The specific example herein shown and described should be considered asillustrative only. Various changes in structure will, no doubt, occur tothose skilled in the art; and these changes are to be understood asforming a part of this invention insofar as they fall within the spiritand scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. In a piano action, the combination comprising: a swingably mountedwhip; a linear sticker pivotally connected at one end to said whip andupstanding therefrom, said pivotal connection being aligned with thelongitudinal axis of said sticker; a key; detachable means operativelyconnecting the opposite end of said sticker to said key; a plurality ofaction brackets each having support means thereon directed away fromsaid key; an elongated member received by said support means anddisposed transversely of said brackets and of said sticker to hold saidsticker rearwardly away from said key upon said detachable meansdisconnecting said sticker from said key; a swingable damper; a pianostring normally damped by said damper; and damper control means fastenedto said whip on the side of the fulcrum thereof opposite said stickerfor contacting and retracting said damper from said string upon pivotingof said whip during movement of said sticker toward said damper to theposition in which it is held by said elongated member.

2. In a piano, the combination comprising: a piano structure; a pianostring tautly mounted on said structure; a piano key fulcrumed on saidstructure; a piano action assembly including a linear sticker reieasablymounted at one end to said key, a swingable whip pivotally connected tothe opposite end of said sticker said pivotal connection being alignedwith the longitudinal axis of said sticker, a damper fulcrumed to pivottoward and away from said string, and damper control means on said whipwhereby swinging of said whip acts to retract said damper from saidstring upon release of said sticker from said key and upon relocation ofsaid sticker rearwardly of said key; a plurality of action bracketsmounting said piano action assembly in said structure; an elongatedmember situatable transversely of and between said key and said stickerfor holding the free end of said sticker upon detachment and rearwardrelocation of said sticker, said damper being thereupon retracted fromsaid string; and hook means operative between each of said brackets andsaid member for restraining said member and holding said sticker in saidposition.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said hook means areformed integrally with said action brackets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,260,287 Betz Oct. 28, 1941 2,260,348 Stein Oct. 28, 1941 2,361,573Stein Oct. 31, 1944

1. IN A PIANO ACTION, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: A SWINGABLY MOUNTEDWHIP; A LINEAR STICKER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO SAID WHIP ANDUPSTANDING THEREFROM, SAID PIVOTAL CONNECTION BEING ALIGNED WITH THELONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID STICKER; A KEY; DETACHABLE MEANS OPERATIVELYCONNECTING THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID STICKER TO SAID KEY; A PLURALITY OFACTION BRACKETS EACH HAVING SUPPORT MEANS THEREON DIRECTED AWAY FROMSAID KEY; AN ELONGATED MEMBER RECEIVED BY SAID SUPPORT MEANS ANDDISPOSED TRANSVERSELY OF SAID BRACKETS AND OF SAID STICKER TO HOLD SAIDSTICKER REARWARDLY AWAY FROM SAID KEY UPON SAID DETACHABLE MEANSDISCONNECTING SAID STICKER FROM SAID KEY; A SWINGABLE DAMPER; A PIANOSTRING NORMALLY DAMPED BY SAID DAMPER; AND DAMPER CONTROL MEANS FASTENEDTO SAID WHIP ON THE SIDE OF THE FULCRUM THEREOF OPPOSITE SAID STICKERFOR CONTACTING AND RETRACTING SAID DAMPER FROM SAID STRING UPON PIVOTINGOF SAID WHIP DUR-